Apex Community Care Inc

MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT-PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND OPIOID ADDICTION - PROJECT TITLE: MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT – PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND OPIOID ADDICTION APPLICANT ORGANIZATION NAME: APEX COMMUNITY CARE, INC. ADDRESS: 30 WEST ST, DANBURY, CT 06810-7842 AGENCY CONTACT: JILL SCHOENFUSS, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER CONTACT NUMBER: (203) 778-2437 E-MAIL ADDRESS: JSCHOENFUSS@APEXCC.ORG WEB SITE ADDRESS: WWW.APEXCC.ORG PROGRAM FUNDS REQUESTED: $525,000.00 PROJECT ABSTRACT APEX COMMUNITY CARE, INC. IS THE APPLICATION UNDER THE SAMHSA NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT-PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND OPIOID ADDICTION PROGRAM. WITH THIS APPLICATION APEX IS REQUESTING FUNDING TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE ACCESS TO MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT (MAT) FOR PERSONS WITH AN OPIOID USE DISORDER SEEKING OR RECEIVING MAT IN GREAT DANBURY AND LITCHFIELD COUNTY CONNECTICUT, ESPECIALLY THOSE STIGMATIZED AND DISENFRANCHISED LOCAL ADULT POPULATIONS, SPECIFICALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY THE HISPANIC/LATINX AND BLACK COMMUNITIES; LGBTQ FOLX; LOCAL IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS; LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS; AND THOSE LIVING WITH HIV. APEX IS THEREBY REQUESTING $525,000 FOR EACH YEAR OF THE FIVE YEAR FUNDING CYCLE ON ORDER TO EXPAND THE AGENCY’S MAT PROGRAM BY INCREASING MAT PRESCRIBING STAFF HOURS, HIRING ADDITIONAL CLINICIANS TO PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTERVENTION AND A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CASE MANAGER TO CONNECT MAT CLIENTS TO NEEDED SERVICES AND TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, CONDUCTING MINOR RENOVATIONS TO OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE INCREASED CLINICAL STAFF AND TO SUPPORT A MORE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH/SUBSTANCE USE/MAT CLIENTELE, AND OBTAINING OTHER SUPPLIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT PROGRAM EXPANSION. ENHANCED SERVICES WOULD INCLUDE EXPANDED USE OF EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES WITH MAT CLIENTS. THE DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE: 1) AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WITH OPIOID USE DISORDER RECEIVING MAT; AND 2) A DECREASE IN ILLICIT OPIOID DRUG USE AND PRESCRIPTION OPIOID MISUSE AT SIX-MONTH FOLLOW-UP. APEX ANTICIPATES SERVING AT LEAST 90 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS IN YEAR 1; YEAR 2 = 120; YEAR 3 = 150; YEAR 4 = 180; YEAR 5 = 210; FOR AN UNDUPLICATED TOTAL OF = 750 CLIENTS. APEX COMMUNITY CARE, INC., (FORMERLY, AIDS PROJECT GREATER DANBURY, INC.) IS A NONPROFIT (501C3) ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1987. THE MISSION OF APEX COMMUNITY CARE IS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND LOVED ONES, AND TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION IN THE COMMUNITY. APEX ENVISIONS A WORLD FREE OF STIGMA AND SHAME, WHERE ALL PEOPLE ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND THEIR VALUE AS AN INDIVIDUAL IS RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATED. WE WILL WORK RELENTLESSLY AND PASSIONATELY TO HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED AND TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. APEX COMMUNITY CARE HAS BEEN SERVING WESTERN CONNECTICUT FOR OVER 30 YEARS, HELPING THOUSANDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS THROUGH OUR SERVICES.

WESTERN CONNECTICUT HIGH IMPACT HIV PREVENTION PROGRAM - WITH THIS APPLICATION, APEX COMMUNITY CARE, INC. (DUNS #78-679-8074) IS REQUESTING $276,000 PER YEAR OVER A 5-YEAR PERFORMANCE PERIOD TO IMPLEMENT CDC-RFA-PS21-2102 COMPREHENSIVE HIGH-IMPACT HIV PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE OUR EXISTING PREVENTION PROGRAM BY SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVING APEX?S CAPACITY TO UTILIZE DATA TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS GAPS IN THE HIV CARE CONTINUUM, PARTICULARLY GAPS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT MINORITY POPULATIONS, TO DESIGN TARGETED INTERVENTIONS TO ADDRESS THOSE GAPS, AND TO IMPROVE CLIENT CARE.APEX COMMUNITY CARE IS A NONPROFIT (501C3) COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1987. THE MISSION OF APEX COMMUNITY CARE IS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND LOVED ONES, AND TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION IN THE COMMUNITY. APEX HAS 33 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE TARGET POPULATION.THE PROJECT PROPOSED IN THIS APPLICATION IS INTENDED TO COMPLIMENT AND EXTEND THE REACH OF EFFORTS IMPLEMENTED BY STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS BY PROVIDING HIGH-IMPACT HIV PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO INCREASE IDENTIFICATION OF HIV DIAGNOSES, REFERRAL FOR PRE-EXPOSURE AND POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PREP & PEP), EARLIER ENTRY TO HIV CARE, AND INCREASED CONSISTENCY OF CARE. THE TARGET POPULATION WE HAVE CHOSEN TO ADDRESS IS MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM), WITH AN EMPHASIS ON MSM OF COLOR, AND INCLUSIVE OF THOSE WHO ARE MALE TO FEMALE TRANSGENDER. WE WILL DELIVER SERVICES TO THIS POPULATION IN THE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF GREATER DANBURY AND LITCHFIELD COUNTY.THIS TARGET POPULATION IS IN KEEPING WITH THE PRIORITY POPULATION OUTLINED IN TO ?CONNECTICUT?S INTEGRATED HIV PREVENTION AND CARE PLAN 2017-2021?, WHICH STATES: ?REDUCE NEW HIV DIAGNOSES BY 15% BY 2021 IN THE FOLLOWING GROUPS: MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM), AND BLACK/AFRICAN-AMERIC AN/LATINO MEN AND WOMEN.? IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE TARGET POPULATION, WE PLAN TO HIRE THREE NEW POSITIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE COMPREHENSIVE HIGH-IMPACT HIV PREVENTION PROGRAM. WE WILL HIRE A FULL TIME LATINX COMMUNITY PROGRAM COORDINATOR, A PART TIME (0.6 FTE) BLACK COMMUNITY PROGRAM COORDINATOR, AND A FULL TIME PREVENTION NAVIGATOR. BOTH COORDINATORS WILL BE MSM AND/OR DIAGNOSED WITH HIV. THE LATINX PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND THE PREVENTION NAVIGATOR WILL BE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH SPEAKING.THE BLACK AND LATINX COMMUNITY PROGRAM COORDINATORS WILL PROVIDE TRAINING TO ALL APEX STAFF MEMBERS TO INCREASE THEIR CULTURAL COMPETENCY, HUMILITY AND SENSITIVITY, TO ASSIST THEM TO BUILD TRUST AND BETTER ENGAGE WITH THE TARGET POPULATION. THEY WILL EXPAND APEX'S OUTREACH TO THE BLACK AND LATINX MSM COMMUNITIES BY PARTNERING WITH ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES WHO HAVE CONTACT WITH THESE COMMUNITIES SUCH AS THOSE WHO SERVE BLACK, LATINX, IMMIGRANT AND LGBTQ POPULATIONS, AND PROVIDE EDUCATION TO THESE PLACES, WHEN INDICATED, TO DECREASE STIGMA OF HIV AND MSM. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM COORDINATORS WILL ALSO DEVELOP SUPPORT GROUPS FOR BLACK AND LATINX MSM, AS WELL AS GROUPS FOR THEIR SUPPORT NETWORKS. THESE NEW POSITIONS WILL WORK IN CONCERT WITH APEX?S EXISTING PREVENTION PROGRAM AND HIV CARE PROGRAM STAFF TO CARRY OUT HIGH-IMPACT HIV PREVENTION STRATEGIES, INCLUDING THOSE TO ADDRESS DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION.TO ASSIST WITH THE DATA COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT AND EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, WE WILL PARTNER WITH RDE SYSTEMS TO IMPLEMENT E2PREVENTION, WHICH IS A COMPLETE, INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR THE COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS OF DATA FOR HIV PREVENTION, HIV TESTING, AND PREP PROGRAMS. RDE SYSTEMS, MAKER OF THE ECOMPAS? AND E2? SUITE OF SOFTWARE PRODUCTS, HAS BEEN SERVING PUBLIC HEALTH FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS. RDE IS FOCUSED ON THEIR COMMITMENT TO ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC, AND SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE PE

RYAN WHITE PART C OUTPATIENT EIS PROGRAM - PROJECT TITLE: RWHAP PART C EIS ISP: NEW GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA APPLICANT ORGANIZATION NAME: APEX COMMUNITY CARE, INC. ADDRESS: 30 WEST STREET DANBURY CT 06810 PROJECT DIRECTOR NAME: ALBANA LAME CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: 203-778-2437 EMAIL ADDRESS: ALAME@APEXCC.ORG WEBSITE ADDRESS: WWW.APEXCC.ORG PROGRAM FUNDS REQUESTED: $350,000 FUNDING PREFERENCE: INCREASED BURDEN, UNDERSERVED AREAS PROJECT ABSTRACT WITH THIS APPLICATION, APEX COMMUNITY CARE, INC. (APEX) (DUNS #78-679-8074/ UEI # H8HGNLTJTGG7) IS REQUESTING $350,000 PER YEAR OVER A 3-YEAR PERFORMANCE PERIOD TO IMPLEMENT HRSA-22-016 RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM PART C EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES PROGRAM: NEW GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREAS. THE PROJECT WOULD SERVE THE PROPOSED NEW SERVICE AREA OF GREATER DANBURY CONNECTICUT, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY. APEX COMMUNITY CARE, INC., (FORMERLY, AIDS PROJECT GREATER DANBURY, INC.) IS A NONPROFIT (501C3) ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1987 BY A GROUP OF LOCAL RESIDENTS MOTIVATED BY A PASSIONATE CONCERN FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS AND THE IMPACT OF THE AIDS PANDEMIC IN THE GREATER DANBURY COMMUNITY. APEX COMMUNITY CARE HAS 34 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE OUTPATIENT PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH HIV LIVING IN WESTERN CONNECTICUT. THE MISSION OF APEX COMMUNITY CARE IS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND LOVED ONES, AND TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION IN THE COMMUNITY. APEX HAS SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE AND PROVEN CAPABILITY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND MULTIPLE GRANT AWARDS. ALL ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ASSIGNED TO THIS PROJECT HAVE EXPERIENCE MANAGING MULTIPLE FEDERAL GRANTS. ACCORDING TO THE CT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, IN 2019 THERE WERE 310 PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV (PLWH) IN GREATER DANBURY CONNECTICUT, WHICH INCLUDES THE CITIES/TOWNS OF BETHEL, BROOKFIELD, DANBURY, NEW FAIRFIE LD, NEWTOWN, REDDING, RIDGEFIELD, AND SHERMAN. THROUGH APEX’S PART A & B FUNDING, WE SERVED ONLY 145 IN 2020. THERE WERE 32 NEWLY DIAGNOSED CASES OF HIV IN GREATER DANBURY FROM 2015-2019. THE TARGET POPULATIONS WE HAVE CHOSEN TO ADDRESS ARE MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM), WITH AN EMPHASIS ON MSM OF COLOR, AND INCLUSIVE OF THOSE WHO ARE MALE TO FEMALE TRANSGENDER, AS WELL AS BLACK HETEROSEXUAL WOMEN. THESE TARGET POPULATIONS ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE PRIORITY POPULATIONS OUTLINED IN “CONNECTICUT’S INTEGRATED HIV PREVENTION AND CARE PLAN 2017-2021” APEX WILL USE RWHAP PART C FUNDING TO ADDRESS GAPS AND BARRIERS IN THE CARE CONTINUUM BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING FOR LOW INCOME, UNINSURED, AND UNDERSERVED PEOPLE WITH HIV. WE PROPOSE TO PROVIDE PRIMARY OUTPATIENT MEDICAL CARE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE OUTPATIENT CARE; AND THE SUPPORT SERVICES OF MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND FOOD BANK. SUPPORT FOR QUALITY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IS ALSO BEING REQUESTED.

RYAN WHITE PART C OUTPATIENT EIS PROGRAM

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS - PROJECT TITLE: FY 2022 RWHAP PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CATEGORY: HIV CARE INNOVATION – COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS APPLICANT ORGANIZATION NAME: APEX COMMUNITY CARE, INC. ADDRESS: 30 WEST ST, DANBURY, CT 06810-7842 PROJECT DIRECTOR NAME: ALBANA LAME, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER CONTACT NUMBER: (203) 778-2437 E-MAIL ADDRESS: ALAME@APEXCC.ORG WEB SITE ADDRESS: WWW.APEXCC.ORG PROGRAM FUNDS REQUESTED: $150,000.00 FUNDING PREFERENCE: UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, RURAL AREAS PROJECT ABSTRACT APEX COMMUNITY CARE, INC. (APEX) (THE APPLICANT) (DUNS #78-679-8074/UEI # H8HGNLTJTGG7) IS THE APPLICANT UNDER HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY HRSA-22-019, RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. WITH THIS APPLICATION, APEX IS REQUESTING FUNDING UNDER THE HIV CARE INNOVATION CATEGORY, FOR THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER (CHW) ACTIVITY, TO STRENGTHEN OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO THE CHANGING HEALTH CARE LANDSCAPE, AND TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY HIV PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME, UNINSURED, AND UNDERSERVED PEOPLE WITH HIV IN GREATER DANBURY AND LITCHFIELD COUNTY CONNECTICUT, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE LIVING IN RURAL AREAS. THROUGH THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, APEX IS THEREBY REQUESTING $150,000 TO IMPLEMENT CHW SERVICES INTO OUR ORGANIZATION’S RWHAP BY TRAINING ELEVEN (11) APEX STAFF MEMBERS TO BECOME CERTIFIED CHWS IN ORDER TO INCREASE OUR ORGANIZATION’S CAPACITY TO PREVENT NEW HIV INFECTIONS, REDUCE HIV-RELATED HEALTH AND GENDER INEQUITIES, BETTER ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, AND INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE IN ORDER TO OPTIMIZE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV, INCLUDING VIRAL SUPPRESSION. BY CERTIFYING THE IDENTIFIED STAFF MEMBERS AS CHWS, THERE IS ALSO FUTURE POTENTIAL FOR THESE SERVICES TO BECOME REIMBURSABLE BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSURANCES. REQUEST FOR FUNDING PREFERENCE. THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING A FUNDING PREFERENCE FOR RURAL AREAS AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICANT. APEX COMMUNITY CARE IS A NON-PROFIT 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN SERVING NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT SINCE THE AIDS CRISIS BEGAN IN THE MID 1980’S. APEX CURRENTLY RECEIVES RYAN WHITE PART A FUNDING FROM THE NEW HAVEN ELIGIBLE METROPOLITAN AREA (EMA) AND RYAN WHITE PART B FUNDING FROM CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (DPH). APEX HAS SERVED AS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR PART A FUNDING IN THE CT EMA’S REGION 5, GREATER DANBURY, SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE EMA’S LEAD-BASED MODEL. APEX HAS CREATED A MODEL OF HIV SERVICE PROVISION AIMED AT ACHIEVING THE GOAL OF ‘GETTING TO ZERO’ (G2Z) IN TERMS OF NEW HIV INFECTIONS. ALL HIV SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT APEX, EXCEPT FOR ORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES-RESIDENTIAL, WHICH ARE PROVIDED BY SUBCONTRACTORS. APEX ALSO RECEIVES RYAN WHITE PART B FUNDING FROM DPH FOR GREATER DANBURY AND LITCHFIELD COUNTY. APEX HAS 34 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE OUTPATIENT PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH HIV LIVING IN NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT. THE MISSION OF APEX COMMUNITY CARE IS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND LOVED ONES, AND TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION IN THE COMMUNITY. APEX’S PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE GOALS OF THE NATIONAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY (NHAS) 2020 TO END THE EPIDEMIC: 1) REDUCE NEW INFECTIONS; 2) INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR PLWH; 3) REDUCE HIV-RELATED DISPARITIES AND HEALTH INEQUITIES; AND 4) ACHIEVE A COORDINATED NATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE HIV EPIDEMIC.

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS